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Parked Cars Hamper Firefighters in Benfleet Blaze
7 May
Summary
- Crews faced difficulties due to double-parked cars.
- A house fire occurred in the kitchen of a Benfleet home.
- An electrical fault caused the fire, extinguished in 30 minutes.

A house fire in Benfleet saw emergency services face access issues due to badly parked vehicles. The fire broke out in the kitchen of a semi-detached home on Rosemead on Wednesday evening, with neighbours reporting hearing a smoke alarm around 18:20 BST. Four crews from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched to the scene.
Fire service spokesperson Dave Farrant noted that the task for crews was made "even more difficult" by cars double-parked along the street. Despite these challenges, the fire was extinguished within 30 minutes. The cause of the blaze was identified as an electrical fault. Firefighters praised the residents who called 999 and helped contain the flames, while also emphasizing the importance of considerate parking for emergency access.